Weigela plant named ‘Bramwell’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Weigela  plant named ‘Bramwell’, characterized by its compact and uniform plant habit; mounding growth habit; freely branching habit; grayed purple-colored stems; relatively small dark grayed purple-colored leaves; and long-lasting dark pink flowers.

Botanical designation: Weigela florida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bramwell’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigelaplant, botanically known as Weigela florida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Bramwell’.

The new Weigela is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new Weigelas with dark leaf color, uniform plant habitand hardiness.

The new Weigela originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventorduring the spring of 1998 of the Weigela florida cultivar Alexandra,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,772. The cultivar Bramwell wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor during the summer of 2000 as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in acontrolled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. Asexual reproduction of thenew cultivar by cuttings in Grand Haven, Mich. since 2000 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Weigela plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bramwell’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bramwell’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofWeigela:

-   -   1. Compact and uniform plant habit; mounding growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Grayed purple-colored stems.    -   4. Relatively small dark grayed purple-colored leaves.    -   5. Long-lasting dark pink flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons in Grand Haven, Mich., under commercialpractice, plants of the new Weigela differed from plants of the parent,the cultivar Alexandra, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela were more compact and mounding than        plants of the cultivar Alexandra.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela are more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Alexandra.    -   3. Plants of the new Weigela had grayed purple-colored young        stems whereas plants of the cultivar Alexandra had green-colored        young stems.    -   4. Plants of the new Weigela had smaller and darker-colored        leaves than plants of the cultivar Alexandra.    -   5. Plants of the new Weigela were hardier than plants of the        cultivar Alexandra.

Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the Weigelaflorida cultivar Ruby Queen, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,632. Inside-by-side comparisons in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the newWeigela differed from plants of the cultivar Ruby Queen in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela are more uniform and fuller than        plants of the cultivar Ruby Queen.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela were hardier than plants of the        cultivar Ruby Queen.

Plants of the new Weigela can also be compared to plants of the Weigelaflorida cultivar Java Red, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons inGrand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Weigela differed from plants ofthe cultivar Java Red in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela were fuller and denser than plants        of the cultivar Java Red.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela had darker-colored leaves than        plants of the cultivar Java Red.    -   3. Plants of the new Weigela had more vibrant pink-colored        flowers than plants of the cultivar Java Red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Weigela, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Weigela.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewor a typical plant of the cultivar Bramwell.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of the cultivar Bramwell.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Weigela has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs, followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring inGrand Haven, Mich., in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and undercommercial production practices. Plants were about three years old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela florida cultivar Bramwell.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed, parent.—Weigela florida cultivar Alexandra,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,772.        -   Male or pollen, parent.—Weigela florida cultivar Alexandra,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,772.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About two months at            temperatures of 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding shrub. Vigorous            growth habit. Freely branching habit with lateral branches            potentially forming at every node.        -   Plant height.—About 37 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 40 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 22 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Young stems: 183C. Mature stems: 201A to 201D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate/oblong.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 187A.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 187A; venation, 141D.            Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 185A; venation, 141C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: 141D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Funnelform flowers arranged in            clusters of about three to six flowers. Flowers not            persistent. Flowers held mostly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Weigela flower            from mid-May to early June in Michigan.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to eight weeks on            the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Ovate to oblong. Length: About 3 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm to 7.5 mm. Color: 61A to 61B.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Funnelform, five petals fused into a            long tube with separate petal lobes. Petal lobe length:            About 5 mm to 8 mm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal lobe            shape: Orbicular. Petal lobe apex: Rounded. Petal lobe            margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when            opening, upper surface: 66D. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: 61B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: 66C to            62C. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: 66B to 62C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five. Length: About 8 mm.            Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Linear to lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Margin: Entire to serrulate. Sepal texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 59A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Angle: About 20° to 30° from            stem axis. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 59A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per            flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 5 mm.            Anther color: 160D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Whitish. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:            About 4 cm. Style length: About 4 cm. Style color: 186C.            Stigma color: 160D. Fruits/seeds: Fruit and seed development            has not been observed.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Weigela have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from about −10° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Weigela have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Weigela.

1. A new and distinct Weigela plant named ‘Bramwell’ as illustrated anddescribed.